Photo by Bill Blumer Jr. Angell ParkMay 17, Sun Prairie, WI- It was a field any promoter would be proud to host, as the Badger midgets took to the tacky Angell Park clay for the first time in 2009. National stars, local heros and those who hope to earn such titles were on had for the Spring Opener 25 presented by MGD Light.

California’s Darren Hagen set the pace in qualifying as he circled the third-mile track in 14.489 seconds. A surprise in time trials was David Budres, in just his third season, who ran sixth quickest at 14.922.

The first heat saw Bubba Altig in the Bill Eckert machine battle Chad DeSelle early. By lap five it was a three-car race, with Davey Ray now in the picture. It took until lap eight for Ray to overtake the leader, DeSelle. Ray then hung on for the win ahead of DeSelle and Altig.

In heat number two, Bryan Walters of Beaver Dam jumped into the early lead. By the fourth circuit he was tailed by three-time champion Scott Hatton. Hatton put the right rear hard into the cushion, but bobbled. Walters surged ahead and put five lengths back on the Pepsi machine. Hatton caught up again a couple of laps later only to have Walters play a lapped car perfectly, leaving Hatton in the hole again. But, with just a couple of laps to go Brandon Waelti’s car shot straight for the second turn wall. He made contact and tipped over, bringing out the red flag. Waelti was uninjured, but later confirmed something broke in the car. Walters was stout on the restart and held off Hatton, Jerry Coons Jr. and Brad Loyet for the win.

Before the green flew for the last heat, Brad Kuhn took to the pits followed shortly thereafter by Aaron Fiscus. Mike Hess took advantage of these strong cars exiting and lead wire to wire from his inherited pole position. He had a challenger in Tracy Hines until that car went up in smoke at the mid-point of the race.

Brad Kuhn, in the John Jones car, made it out for the semi and took the checkers by ten lengths. Of interest was the battle in the back between young drivers Eric Johnson and Courtney Erfurth. Johnson dogged Erfurth for most of the 15 laps, but Erfurth held him off for a finish in about twelfth.

The fans knew they were in for a great opening night as the line-up was set for the feature. Eight of the front ten cars were among the top 20 in the National Midget Driver of the Year Standings for 2008. Nowhere outside of the Chili Bowl or a USAC race, would fans find a field with such credentials.

Altig was strong at the start of the main, from his outside pole position. He earned a five-length lead by the third lap, but the crowd could see Ray picking off cars quickly from his eight starting spot. It only took Ray until the sixth lap to get around Altig. By lap ten Ray was ahead by half a straightaway over Altig and Hatton, but lapped traffic was coming on. A stalled car caused a yellow two circuits later. The restart saw Ray ahead of Altig, Hatton, Loyet, Coons, Robbie Ray, Kuhn and Hess. When the green flew Hines was the driver of note. Breaking from his normal low line, he found the cushion to his liking and picked off several cars in short order.

After looking very ordinary through most of the race, Coons seemed to find his groove and broke free from the pack to mount a challenge for Ray with five to go. As the white flag flew Coons nipped Ray at the line, but Ray kept up hope until he jumped the rim in turn three, allowing Coons the hard earned win. Altig, Hatton, Loyet and Hines rounded out the top six.

The MGD Memorial Day 50 is next on the slate for Angell Park Speedway where the Badger Midget Series will again be in action. The race is scheduled for the normal Sunday go, with a dance in the pavilion after the races. Memorial Day, Monday is scheduled as a rain date for the race if need be.